Concrete being installed for Canton Route 11 rail crossing

CANTON - Crews from CSX Transportation Inc. expect to finish installing a new, upgraded Route 11 railroad crossing today, clearing the way for the state Department of Transportation to begin paving near that section of Main Street.

This crossing will be much better than the previous one, said George A. Cean, a CSX engineer. Were using concrete crossing planks. Usually we use wood and asphalt. This crossing gets a lot of heavy traffic and the concrete is more stable.

Workers from CSX have spent this week installing three, 160-foot rail panels and ties. Today they plan to install concrete blocks for the crossing.

Everything is brand new. The strength of the ties and the whole structure will be better, said Steven R. Steinfeld, track foreman. The curve of the track will stay exactly the same.

Because Jay Street will be converted into a cul-de-sac with no entrance to Main Street, the length of the rail crossing will decrease from roughly 160 feet to 100 feet, Mr. Cean said.

The new set-up will be safer because motorists will no longer be crossing the railroad tracks from Jay Street.

It was too dangerous, Mr. Cean said.

Thomas A. Maroun Jr., state Department of Transportation project engineer, said after the crossing is complete, CSX still has to complete signal work.

New curbs are being installed on Main Street from Park Place heading east toward the rail crossing.

We are hoping to begin paving next week to take advantage of the road being closed, from Park Place to the railroad and from Pleasant Street to Harrison Street, Mr. Maroun said in an email.

After CSX finishes the signal work, the Jay Street work will be completed, he said.

Night paving is scheduled to begin after the detour is lifted and traffic is allowed down Main Street. The top layer of paving should be installed in late September or early October.

The DOT launched the 1.1-mile project last spring and expects to finish the job by Nov. 30. The two-year, $9.55 million project included replacing antiquated underground water and sewer lines along Route 11 from the Gouverneur Street to Stiles Avenue.

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